as in deliberate
made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing
facial tics and other unconscious movements that one would not normally call purposive actions
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Recent Examples of purposive
For Defoe, meaning is purposive and theological, purposive because theological.
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James Wood, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2022
Sporadic outbursts of feeling are converted into purposive and unremitting activity.
—Aldous Huxley, Harper's Magazine, 17 Aug. 2021
In this sense, history is not only rational but also providential: designed, purposive, teleological.
—James Wood, The New Yorker, 25 May 2020
James Wood, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2022
Sporadic outbursts of feeling are converted into purposive and unremitting activity.
—Aldous Huxley, Harper's Magazine, 17 Aug. 2021
In this sense, history is not only rational but also providential: designed, purposive, teleological.
—James Wood, The New Yorker, 25 May 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purposive
Adjective
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Her remarks were a deliberate attempt to engage with voters who feel disillusioned by both political parties’ handling of international issues.By Nik Popli/East Lansing, Mich., TIME, 4 Nov. 2024
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Daren Christopher Abbey, 41, was arrested this week and charged with deliberate homicide in the killing of Dustin Kjersem, 35, whose body was found in his tent near Big Sky on Oct. 12, officials said.Phil Helsel, NBC News, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Incorrectly labeled fish can undermine conscious consumers’ efforts to purchase responsibly.Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024
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An emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency can reduce long-term operating costs while also appealing to environmentally conscious residents and businesses.Meyer Orbach, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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This positive, forward-thinking approach can inspire voluntary compliance and unlock a wave of creativity in the commercial real estate sector.Ali Hoss, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
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Last December, the company laid off around 10% of eOne’s workforce ahead of the closing of the merger and in September offered U.S. employees a voluntary severance and an early retirement program amid the contracting media and entertainment landscape.Peter White, Deadline, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The show was also intentional about embracing younger artists blazing new trails in the industry — from a medley with up-and-coming urban artists Eladio Carrión, Quevedo, Myke Towers, to a Spanglish performance by Joe Jonas and Ela Taubert, who is nominated for best new artist.Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024
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Be intentional with team connections and avoid the trap of transactional conversations.Expert Panel®, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Your job as a leader is to improve the alignment between the organization's current state and its intended strategy.Dan Pontefract, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
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For its intended purpose as a people mover though, the vehicle's suspension feels just a bit too stiff.Roberto Baldwin, WIRED, 21 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Read: The changing sound of male rage in rock music Underscoring his willed isolation is the fact that Fight Club intentionally seems to take place nowhere.Stephen Kearse, The Atlantic, 15 Oct. 2024
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And that raucous crowed willed Belgium to a first-quarter spark that included seven points from guard Julie Vanloo.Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near purposive
Cite this Entry
“Purposive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purposive. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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